Method and implement for resetting rail anchor jaws



Patented Nov. 18, 1947 METHOD AND IMPLEMENT `FOR RESETTING RAIL ANCHOR JAWS Harold G. Warr, Park Ridge, Ill., assignor to Poor & Company, Chicago, Ill., a corporation of Delaware Application March 17, 1944, Serial No. 526,974

a claims. (C1. s- 48) This invention relates to an improved method of resetting the rail gripping jaws of rail anchor devices and also to certain improved implements for use in carrying out the several steps of the method.

Certain general types of rail anchors are made by bending steel bars into hook form to provide one or more jaw portions for resiliently gripping one or both flanges of the base portion of a railway rail. Ordinarily, an anchor device of this character includes an underrail portion which eX- tends across beneath the rail base so as to lockingly engage a vertical edge portion of a rail base and bears against a vertical face of an adjacent cross-tie so as to resist lengthwise movement of therail in the direction of traflic. When a device of this character is applied to the wedge-like base ilange of a rail, its rail gripping jaws are driven onto the wedge-like flange of the rail base. Consequently the jaws are exed outwardly from their normal positions so that the tendency which the jaws have to resume their normal positions exerts a resilient grip on the rail base.

When rail anchors of the above character are removed from a rail after a long period of service, it is frequently desirable to reset or bend the jaws to their original positions before reapplying the anchor device to a'rail. However, it is extremely important in the resetting operation to avoid excessive and localized bending of the jaws. If the space between a jaw and the anchor body is made too small or if the bending incident to the resetting operation is conned to a local area, the reapplication of the anchor device to a rail base flange may result in spreading the hook portion of the anchor beyond its elastic limit, thereby weakening the normal resilient grip of the anchor on the rail base ange.

There are two general methods which have been heretofore employed to reset the jaws of rail anchors of the above character. One of these methods involves the application of a squeezing force to the extreme end of an anchor jaw, as shown in United States Patent No. 2,195,450. The other general method contemplates supporting the anchor device in a horizontal position, such as shown in the patent above referred to and delivering a sudden impact force downwardly against the outer upper surface of the jaw adjacent the extreme end of the jaw so as to impart a permanent set to the jaw in a direction toward the anchor body.V

The first mentioned method has been used to some extent in connection with anchors made from heavy bars of rectangular cross section, but

` it is not entirely satisfactory for use in connection Y with rail ancho-r devices made frombar stock of T-shaped or angular cross sectie The sudden impact force delivered by the second mentioned method is quite elective for imparting a permanent set to the anchor jaw. It has been practiced occasionally by uninformed workmen, but it is not an approved method since there is a pronounced tendency for the sudden impact force against the jaw, the latter being supported in a horizontal position, to bendfthe jaw only at a localized area, particularly along the line marked A on Fig. 1 of the drawings. Furthermore, the method, as heretofore practiced, cannot be used effectively in connection with rail anchors made from bar stock of T-shape or angular cross section. Anchors of these specic forms present the further diliculty in that they include an outwardly projecting rigidifying flange which is relatively wide and thin. It is impractical to` apply a bending or resetting force wholly against the rigidifying flange because the said flange has insufficient body to transmit the force to the lateral anges of the jaw. It is equally impractical to apply the bending or resetting force wholly against the lateral anges of the jaw, since this manner of applying the force exerts excessive strain at the base or juncture of the vertical flange with the horizontal iianges of the jaw. In such case there is a strong tendency to rupture the rigidifying flange at the point of its junction with said horizontal flanges of the jaw.

A principal object of the present invention is to provide an improved method of resetting rail anchor jaws by applying the resetting pressure to the jaw portion of the anchor at a predetermined angle, whereby the end of the jaw is given a permanent set inwardly toward the body of the anchor device and the curvature of the hookforming bend of the anchor is enlarged.

Another object is to provide an improved method of resetting rail anchor jaws of T-shaped cross section whereby a strong impact force may be delivered against and uniformly distributed over the hook end portion of the anchor so as to impart a permanent set to the anchor jaw in both inward and outward directions.

The improved method and implements used herewith are shown in the accompanying drawings, wherein: i

Fig. 1 is a side view partly in section and partly in elevation, illustrating the manner in which a rail anchor device of T-shaped cross section is supported in a xed die member in position Ato receive the downwardly directed impact force for bending the anchor jaw to its original position.

Fig. 2 is a cross sectiona1 view, taken on line 2-2 of Fig, 1, to illustrate the bifurcated construction of one of the implements and the manner in which it engages the anchor jaw, and

Fig. 3fis a view similar to Fig. lbut illustrating a modified impact receiving implement.

The present method has special advantages in connection with the resetting of the rail gripping jaws of anchor devices madev from. T-shaped stock. Therefore, for purpose of emphasiziiig these advantages the improved method and implements are illustrated herein inzconnectioniwith such special form of anchor' d'evi'ce. However, it should be understood that while the method has special advantages in connection with'anchors of the special construction shown, it is not to be understood as being restricted in its utility: to` such limited use. v

The rail anchor device herein shown is a. well known construction. It is'made according to the disclosure of United. StatesiPatent No; 2,244,755'. rline anchor device, briefly described, comprises a bar,` T-shaped in cross section', which isbent upon itself at one. end to providel a` hook-shaped jaw portion l0. A portion lli of: the bar constitutes the body of the:y anchor andv is adapted' to extend across beneath the basey portionl of a rail inpositionv to abut against an. adjacent. cross-tie.y At the' tail end of the body there is formed an offset portionl which provides a locking shoulder. l-2-1 adapted to snap over a verticaly edge of a rail baseto lock the anchor in its position.

In applying the anchor toA a rail the hookshaped jaw portion Il)V is driven uponL the well known inclined base flange of the rail'vl until" the shoulder I2 snaps up over thevopposite edge of the rail base. The applying movement of the'anchor fiexes the jaws outwardly relative to the body flso that the anchor exerts a resiilent grip on the tcp and bottom surfaces of the base.

According to the present method the anchor is arranged in a position inclined in the direction of its length with the inner end ofthe jaw portionv il) facing upwardly atan angle substantially as shownv in Fig. 1. The anchor is heldin this position' by means of a suitable support which engages the lower surfaces of the lateral flanges |"3-|4 of the anchor at opposite sides of theV central rigidifying rib` I5; This support alsov extends partly around the lowerl surface of the hook'- forming bend l1. By applying` a downwardly directedv impact to the jaw portion l, atk an angle to` the inclined end face thereof, the main line of' force is divided into two force components; One of these lateral components is transmitted through the rounded end portion ofv an impact receiving member to certainy ofl the outer inclined surfaces of the anchor jaw in a direction to bend the jaw toward the body of the anchor. The" other component of the impact force is t-ransmitted downwardly and outwardly against the end face of the rigidifying rib of theanchor in aA direction lengthwise of the jawso as-'t'o apply'a" compressive force on the jaw` in the region ofthe bend whereby the bend is enlarged by an' outward spreading thereof. In this way the downwardlydirected impact force is distributed`I throughout the. entire anchor jaw in a mannerto-spreadlthe bending forces over a relatively largeV area and therebyv avoid'bending the jaw at alocalize'd-area, for example the area designated by. the. line A` in Fig, 1.

By' applying the impact-forcel in themanner CTI A spect above described a substantial portion of the force is applied to the end face of the rigidifying rib l5 overlying the jaw I0 and also to the horizontal flange portions designated ISa--llla of the jaw. This manner of distributing the impact force prevents undue strain and possible rupture of the anchor* jaw at the basek ofth'erigidifyin'g flange, for example, along theline indicated by'the reference character B in Fig. 2. The downwardly applied force, as previously indicated, functions to. exert compressive force on the rigidifying flanger at the location designated C. In this rethe invention distinguishes from all methods'iheretoforeIknow-n.since the resetting methods rfheretofore-lnovvn have applied a stretching force to the outer1 portion of the bend at a location corresponding tothat designated C in Fig 1.

The improved implements for carrying out the several steps of the improved method include a die block I8, a set hammer I9 or other impact receiving implement, and azsuitable means Zfor example a sledgeor a; mechanically' actuat'edidrop hammer' for: deliveringl a. heavy impact. force to the set hammer I=9. The die blockv lzisprovided with a recess 2l to receive the rigidifying flange If5= of the anchor device.. It is also provided witha'recess'ZZ adaptedto receive the hook! portion' or the anchor. jaw.A The'-` lower: surfaces 23--23 of this. recess: are' made to'. conformisub'- stantiallyto the'. lower surfaceof th'e anchor j'a'w; including.r the lower'portion of: the-bend |15. The said supporting surfaces. 23--23' extend` upwardly at; a desired angleV tol provide abearing'. surface whichY extends: substantially the' entire lengtl'r of the; anchorbody; In'v this way the extended bea-ring; surface prevents the tail." end ofthe anchor from: moving. downwardly4 wheny the downward impact-forceis. delivered to the endl of the jaw.

InI order'to distribute the-impact force over the' several.surfaceslofI thejaw, when the jawis made of T-shapedcrossl section as herein illust-ratedy theset hammerv |'9` is provided with a bifurcated end portion 24-w-hich ntsy over theend portion of' the rigidif-yi'n'gf rib |52 The lower end of the'bifuro'ated portion ispreferably rounded as indi'- cat'edi at 25' to conform generally tothe curvature adjacent theend-of the anchor jaw;

Referring now` to* the modified embodiment.' shown in' Fig. 3`', the-rallf anchor'and the'dieI block' shown in'A this figure are: identical' with4 the corre'- spendingV elements shown in- Fig.' 1' and' therefore are identified by they same reference characters; The set hammer* of thisembodimen't is' formedJ at its lower end with a'l recess 21' which' provides a' bifurcated construction which fits overV the end portionof'therigidifying-rib l5of the anchor. The lower end'V of" the' set hammerl is curved; as indicated at 28, so as to bear against the curved' end' portionof' lateral' extending 'anges I 3F- I lfof' the. anchor device, wherebya downwardly direct impact f'crcey received bythe hammer 26 is transmitted to' the'anges {3L-Ma in' a direction to bend" them toward the body of' the anchor, as indicatedin-dotted lines Sirin Fig. 3. In orderto' relievevv the tendency of` thisl force from' rupturing the flange 1'5- at" itsjuncture with the horizontal flanges l'w-ille-the'outer end of the rece'ss21 ofl the4 set hammer 26 is closed so as to provide an abutmentv'l' adapted to engage the outer surface' 3l off therigidifying flange 15': Consequentl'ythe' end portion ofi the rigidifying flangeis moved as' indicated by dotted line 32 in thesameA generalx directionf asr the lateral flanges ISE- 141 so as'to relieve the said rib-of excessive strainsa Inadditi'on t'othe force component which bends theanchor jaw toward the body of the anchor, there is another force component which assumes a downward and outward direction and thereby tends to enlarge the curvature of the hook-forming bend, as indicated by the dotted lines 33 in Fig. 3. This pressure component, as before indicated, being in the nature of a combined compression and bending force, avoids objectionable distortion of the rigidifying flange such as normally results when the jaw is bent inwardly by application of pressure wholly to the outer surfaces of the jaw.

While the invention is shown herein in connection with certain specific forms of implements, it will be obvious to persons skilled in the art that implements of other similar forms may be used. It should be understood therefore that the specific arrangements and constructions herein shown are intended merely as illustrations and not as limitations. The invention contemplates all alternative forms of implements which come within the scope of the appended claims..

I claim:

1. Means for use in resetting a hook-shaped jaw portion of a rail anchor device formed with an outwardly projecting rigidifying rib, comprising a die block formed with a recess for receiving said rigidifying rib and with upwardly inclined bearing surfaces for supporting the anchor body and a lower portion of the bend forming hook at opposite sides of the rib, and a bifurcated set hammer positioned to embrace the said rib at the end of the hook and having surfaces for seating on the inclined end face and the inclined outer surfaces of the hook-shaped end, and means for delivering the impact force downwardly against said set hammer whereby the end of the hoolishaped end portion of the anchor is given a permanent set inwardly toward the body of the anchor and the curvature of the hook-forming end is enlarged.

2. Means for use in resetting a hook-shaped jaw portion of a rail anchor device formed from T-shaped metal stock to provide an outwardly projecting rigidifying rib, which is inclined at an acute angle from the perpendicular, comprising a die block formed with a recess for receiving said rigidifying riband with upwardly inclined bear'- ing surfaces for supporting the anchor body and a lower portion of the bend forming hook at opposite sides of the rib, and a bifurcated set hammer positioned to embrace the said rib at the end of the hook and having surfaces for seating on the inclined end face and the inclined outer surfaces of the hook-shaped end, and means for delivering the impact force downwardly against said set hammer whereby the end of the hook-shaped end portion of the anchor is given a permanent set inwardly toward the body of the anchor and the curvature of the hook-forming bend is enlarged.

3. The method of resetting a, hook-shaped jaw portion of a rail anchor device which consists in supporting the lower surface of the body of the anchor and a portion of the hook-forming bend in a fixed position, but leaving the end of the hook portion free for unrestrained movement toward the said body, bending the end of the hook portion inwardly toward the anchor body and simultaneously enlarging the curvature of the inner bend of the hook by applying an impact of sufcient force against the end face and an outer surface of the hook portion adjacent the end face and at an angle to said face and surface to simultaneously bend the hook portion inwardly toward the body without reducing the radius of the bend.

HAROLD G. WARR.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,804,792 Langford May 12, 1931 956,522 Furlong May 3, 1910 956,521 Furlong May 3, 1910 1,685,255 Warr Sept. 25, 1928 1,686,537 Schneider Oct. 9, 1928 1,706,273 Woodings Mar. 19, 1929 2,195,450 Denz et al Apr. 2, 1940 

